WIRELESS ‘SMART’ METERS – why say NO

These controversial devices are already being installed across the UK, without the

public being informed of the possible threat to health, security and our environment.

The Government plan to replace all our utility meters with wireless Smart meters by 2020, in preparation for the ‘Smart Grid’. The aim is to smooth out the peaks and troughs of energy demand (a major problem for the utilities) by introducing a flexible tariff whereby the consumer pays more at peak times when they need it most, and less when the demand falls. These wireless meters have not been tested for health effects and are being rolled out amid dubious claims by government that they will cut consumer bills and help tackle climate change. This system is currently expected to cost British tax payers 11.3 billion pounds, the National Audit Office stating that the financial and environmental benefits are not justified by the expenditure involved. No current estimates for covering the cost of treating an increase in related health problems is readily available.

In California, for example, in areas where a similar system has already been deployed, multiple health problems have been reported, and also environmental damage …. And this is just the beginning of the roll out. Additionally, customers report over charging, wireless interference with WIFI connections, baby monitors and security systems, pacemakers and other medical devices. There have been public demonstrations against them and in many areas they have been banned, and even replaced by the properly wired system, preferably fibre optic, which has already been adopted in some other countries like Italy, and would eliminate these problems.

Smart meters are different from other wireless devices because they are involuntary, installed on your property, transmitting intense bursts of radiofrequency signals (pulsed microwaves) collecting and transmitting data about our energy usage. Radiofrequency radiation/electro-magnetic fields have been documented to have biological and health effects on living tissue including DNA breaks, cancer, endocrine disruption, autism, heart palpitations, learning impairment, chronic fatigue, dementia and sleep disturbance. Children, pregnant women, senior citizens, and people with immune deficiencies or medical implants are most at risk. In May 2011 the World Health Organisation (fact sheet no.193) classified Electro-Magnetic Fields as a Class 2B carcinogen (with a similar threat as lead and the banned pesticide DDT) and the Government/Utility companies want to expose families to it 24 hours a day, every day … Why?

There are already an estimated 3-5% of the UK population who are physically aware of the harmful effects to their health from cordless and mobile phones, masts, WIFI etc (a condition known as electro-sensitivity). Some are so severely affected (electro-hypersensitive), they are being isolated from normal life and forced from their jobs and homes to seek ‘safe’ refuge elsewhere. Some experts believe this 3-5% figure could be considerably higher due to most people not recognising the root cause of their ailment. This condition is generally believed to be progressive, and like most allergies, is for life. The only respite is in areas completely free from ‘electro-smog’ (a combination of all forms of manmade electrical fields and pulsed radiations), which are systematically being eliminated. The World Health Organisation recognises electro-sensitivity as ‘certainly real’ (fact sheet no. 296), and other more enlightened countries like Sweden officially accept the condition as an environmental impairment and regard electro-hypersensitivity as a disability.

Any extra pulsed microwaves in your environment could easily lead to you or other family members becoming electro-sensitive, you really don’t want to go there. Whilst you might be fortunate enough not to feel affected by wireless devices at present, consider others around you, as you could be seriously exacerbating the symptoms and quality of life of a neighbour or family member.

The risks really are too high, you have the right to protect the health of your family and environment.